Wave Rebellion Pro 3 vs Endorphin Pro 5

The Wave Rebellion Pro 3 is Mizuno at its most uncompromising: a £250 carbon racing shoe built for one thing, chasing a fast marathon or half. The party trick is the radically cut-away heel, which drops away behind your foot and throws you forward onto a steep forefoot rocker. Land on your midfoot or forefoot and it rolls you through toe-off with real momentum. At 225g with a 4mm drop it is light and low-slung for a super shoe, and the carbon plate keeps everything firm and directional underfoot. This is not a do-everything racer. It rewards efficient runners who hold pace and land forward, and it can feel awkward for anyone who sits back on their heels. If you want a friendlier ride with more forgiveness, the Vaporfly 4 is the easier shoe to run. But for committed racers who like an aggressive, propulsive road shoe, few things feel this eager to move.

Most carbon racers ask for a steady foot. Saucony built the Endorphin Pro 5 for runners who find them a bit wobbly. It's a carbon racing shoe with a slotted plate and PWRRUN PB foam, and at a listed 206g it isn't among the lightest super shoes. In return you get a planted, guided ride. Reviewers rate it most highly between 5K and half marathon pace, and plenty of club runners will happily take it through a marathon. Fordy Runs sees it as a race shoe for everyday runners rather than elites. Believe in the Run was cooler: it found the shoe barely changed from the Endorphin Pro 4 and missing the pop of the best race shoes. The two views don't really clash. If you want Saucony's most aggressive racer, that's the Endorphin Elite 3. If you'd rather have a stable, hard-wearing race shoe you can also train in, the Pro 5 is one of the easier ones to get along with.